Rett's syndrome

Introduction: Rett's syndrome

Rett's syndrome: Rett syndrome is a progressive neurological disorder in which individuals exhibit reduced muscle tone, autistic-like behavior, hand ... more about Rett's syndrome.

Rett's syndrome: Autism-like behavioral syndrome in infant girls. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Rett's syndrome is available below.

Symptoms of Rett's syndrome

• Autistic-like behavior - see also autism
• Developmental delay
  • Normal early development - no abnormal symptoms in the earliest months
  • Regression - negative change from normal early development into impaired abilities
  • Poor language skills

See full list of 60 symptoms of Rett's syndrome

Medical Textbooks Online about Rett's syndrome

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Rett's syndrome?

• Misdiagnosis of Rett's syndrome

Causes of Rett's syndrome

Read more about causes of Rett's syndrome.

Treatments for Rett's syndrome

• Symptomatic
• Anti-seizure medications
• Nutritional supplements

Read more about treatments for Rett's syndrome

Videos for Rett's syndrome

Patient Surveys for Rett's syndrome

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Rett's syndrome
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Rett's syndrome

Prognosis for Rett's syndrome: Often require lifetime supportive care.

More about prognosis of Rett's syndrome

Reseach about Rett's syndrome

Visit our research pages for current research about Rett's syndrome treatments.

Clinical Trials for Rett's syndrome

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Rett's syndrome include:

• Nutritional Aspects of Rett Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Study of Cardiac and Paroxysmal Abnormalities in Rett Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Study of the Pathogenesis of Rett Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - dextromethorphan,topiramate,Donepezil
• Independent Studies of Dextromethorphan and of Donepezil Hydrochloride for Rett Syndrome - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - dextromethorphan,donepezil hydrochloride
• A Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Risperidone Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Children With Autistic Disorder and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - risperidone

See full list of 6 Clinical Trials for Rett's syndrome

Statistics for Rett's syndrome

• Medical statistics for Rett's syndrome
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Rett's syndrome
• Death and Mortality statistics for Rett's syndrome
• Society statistics for Rett's syndrome

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Rett's syndrome

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Rett's syndrome

See all guides and ebooks for Rett's syndrome

Stories from Users Related to Rett's syndrome

• Autism-Vaccine Links Get Test In Court
• fingers and hands peeling all over the place
• How do I know if my son has Autism
• Misdiagnosis of Autism for son at 2 years
• is this autism or just a delay?
• Finger, Hand, Forearm, Bicep and Underarm symptoms
• If not dementia then what?
• Hands turning orange
• CT symptoms different in hands...
• Petichiae on hands
• shakey hands
• Wierd Hand/Finger issue
• Dementia
• Fasting for Religious Purposes
• Major peeling flesh on hands
• Hand Sweling
• autism
• genetic predisposition of stroke and Binswanger's Dementia
• massage therapist's hand extremely stiff
• Blisters on hands then peeling for Months? YEARS?

Related forums and stories:

• Brain Conditions (194)
  • arachnoid cyst
  • Pain/Pressure in back of head when I laugh
  • Fluid running down back of my head feeling
  • vertigo + other symptoms
  • "ice Pick" Headaches
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Rett's syndrome, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Rett's syndrome

Rett syndrome is a progressive neurological disorder in which individuals exhibit reduced muscle tone, autistic-like behavior, hand movements consisting mainly of wringing and waving, loss of purposeful use of the hands, diminished ability to express feelings, avoidance of eye contact, a lag in brain and head growth, gait abnormalities, and seizures. Hypotonia (loss of muscle tone) is usually the first symptom. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Rett Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Rett's syndrome:

Progressive encephalopathy occurring almost exclusively in females. The affected children are generally born clinically normal in most but not all cases. Their neurological and mental development begins to stagnate between the ages of 7 and 18 months with slowing down of the growth of head circumference and a rapid deterioration of brain functions marked by autistic behavior, dementia, apraxia of gait, loss of facial expression, deterioration of purposeful use of hands, ataxia, and severe dementia. There is an intermediate period of relative stable mental status, sometimes lasting several decades, which is followed by further neurological degradation, marked mainly by spasticity of the lower limbs and epilepsy. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Rett's syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Rett's syndrome, or a subtype of Rett's syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Rett's syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet